Before WB polls, CM Mamata increases dearness allowance & promises tablets to students

In what seems to be an attempt to woo Bengal voters, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said state's coffers would never run dry for its employees and anunced a three percent hike in dearness allowance (DA) from next month for government staff. Targeting Centre, she said that state is yet to receive dues of Rs 85,000 crore from Centre. CM furr said that 9.5 lakh students of 14,000 higher secondary schools and 636 madrasas will be given tablets for free for ir online classes.

"We had t been receiving our financial dues. At least Rs 8,000 crore is due under GST. Despite financial constraints, we had met recommendations of all previous pay commissions (sixth pay Commission). We will also provide three per cent hike in DA from January 2021. Over Rs 85,000 crore dues are yet to be cleared by Centre but that will t prevent us from giving our people ir dues," she said. Chief Minister said exercise will incur an expense of Rs 2,200 crore on state's exchequer.

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CM also said that state has made arrangements to ensure RT-PCR tests are conducted at a rate as low as Rs 950. ting that employees of central government organisations and undertakings are currently "insecure" amid talks of privatisation of institutions, CM said her dispensation has never sacked anyone and instead increased salaries of staff even in midst of pandemic. Mamata Banerjee claimed that  situation in country is such that " farmers are agitating on streets, while labourers have lost ir voice. CM also claimed said that Centre has t given state its dues for Amphan relief and COVID-19 care.

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Chaos in TMC ahead of polls

Many leaders in TMC has expressed ir displeasure over growing clout of Mamata's nephew Abhishek Banerjee. y are also miffed because of Prashant Kishor, poll strategist whom Mamata Banerjee hired to script her re-election. BJP which has made major inroads in West Bengal during Lok Sabha polls by winning 18 seats as compared to TMC's 22, is looking forward to give a tough fight and eventually win elections by dislodging Mamata's 10 years rule. Moreover, heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari may quit TMC, and MLA Mihir Goswami has already joined BJP. 

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